CD3 Dems in chaos

While there were no shots fired or gatherings in the streets, tears were shed and resignations were made.

Lisa Hannah resigned from chair of the Third District Democrats, and Brian T. Osborn resigned his associate chair position.

Hannah and Osborn have been fighting it out for a while now — in public, in private and here on the Leavenworth Street comment boards and on other blogs. (Where did people go to argue in the old days?)

On Saturday, according to Osborn:

Basically, what the issues between Lisa Hannah and I were all about concerned whether the Nebraska Democratic Party is going to be a grassroots based organization that is run by the people, or if it is going to be an organization run by only a few people behind the proverbial curtain.

Hannah was in tears, saying later she threw in the towel due to what she called “dirty politics.” While addressing her district, she said tearfully that nobody should have to put up with the behind-the-back comments she took. She said the district is supposed to be working together, but she often felt isolated.

We would state that having an argument about governing philosophy can be good for a political party. It’s not as if the CD3 Dems have been successful by any means lately.

It will be interesting to see how they go about putting things back together.

***

The talk of the Politico sites these days is all about how the National Dems are going after Congressman Lee Terry for his vote on a supplemental war funding bill.

Terry voted against the bill, in part, because it added $108 billion in new loan authority for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which the President agreed to atApril’s G-20 summit.

The funding is unrelated to U.S. war efforts, and may fundamentally change the IMF’s role while weakening the U.S.’s power within the institution.

The provision represents a ten-fold increase in the U.S.’s current IMF contribution to fund a massive expansion of the IMF’s lending programs. Funds provided to the IMF could be passed on to state sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, Syria, and Venezuela.

But state Senator Tom White, who is ithcin’ to run against Terry next year, said:

…and yet he apparently felt he knew enough about it to criticize Terry for voting against it.

Gotcha.

Of course the crux of all this, as Don Walton saliently pointed out in the LJS, is to soften up Terry’s support in the GOP stronghold of Sarpy county — home of Offutt Air Force Base. They figure White would take Douglas County easy, what with the Obama win there in 2008, and then can compete with Terry in Sarpy.

“We need to work together to solve these problems and not be divided by tactics and maneuvers that resemble campaign rhetoric.”

Hmm. This coming from the guy (Suttle) who said he was running for Mayor of Omaha from the day he was elected to the City Council. Suttle made it pretty clear that from Day One all his tactics and maneuvers were campaign rhetoric.

169 comments

Lisa Hannah, in the NTV story, "said tearfully that nobody should have to put up with the behind-the-back comments she took."

I believe anything that Lisa Hannah heard from me was pretty much out in the open. Yes, I was very critical of the way she tried to run the 3rd CD Organization (into the ground.) How she may have had access to any of the "behind-the-back comments" that she accuses me, and others, of leaves me mystified.

Is Barry Rubin still running the Democratic party in Nebraska? He must be doing it from behind the curtain Osborne was talking about. So Terry isn't a patriot now? Looks like the old Barry Rubin / Ian Russell team must still be crawling around together down there in the gutter.

So, when Lee Terry has criticized Democrats in the past when they didn't support a war funding bill because they didn't like other provisions in the bill of "playing politics with our troops" — that is okay?

But now when Lee does the same thing he shouldn't be criticized? Huh?

Doesn't Lee still believe — “we must give our military every resource it needs”?? Or is that only when we have a Republican president?

Lee — stop these stupid shenanigans and political games when you're gambling with our troops' lives!

Too bad Lee voted for legislation that was in other war funding legislation when President Bush's time in office.

Example: 2005 – Lee voted for H.R. 1268 (Emergency Supplemental for Defense). This also tacked on other items – Immigrant Security Standards bill, Military Death Gratuity Increase bill, Reaffirmation of State Regulation of Resident and Non-Resident Hunting Act of 2005, Real ID, Save Our Small and Seasonal Business Act of 2005.

There were 257 amendments proposed for this legislation, only a handful were included in the final conference report which Lee voted Yes on and it included the following:

1.)To Provide additional assistance to Sudan. 2.)To provide assistance to promote democracy in Lebanon. 3.)To make sure unused EB3 visas avaliable to bring nurses to the US through DoS procedures. 4.)To reaffirm the authority of the states to regulate certain hunting and fishing activities. 5.) To prohibit the continuation of the independent council investigation of Henry Cisneros past June 1, 2005 and request an accounting of costs from GAO. 6.) To address the avian flu influenza virus in Asia. 7.) To encourage funds be made avaliable to provide assistance to children affected by the tsunami. 8.) To express the sense of the Senate on funding for the continuing development of the magnet motor. 9.) To provide for microcredit programs in the countries affected by the tsunami. 10.) To make tsunami recovery and reconstruction funds avaliable for women. 11.)To enncourage the Government of Ecuador to take urgent measures to protect the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands.12.) To amend the INA to provide for the entry of nationals of Australis. 13.) To authorize the Secretary of Labor to convey the Detroit Labor Building to the State of Michigan.

Lee played politics with the troops and this piece of legislation.

When the Republicans were in the majority, these types of loaded bloated were common practice. Republican's questioned the patriotism of Democrats who voted against the same type of legislation. The funding for our troops in this case was placed in extreme trouble because the Republicans were attempting to placate to the progressive Democrats who have been trying to get troops removed from Iraq. Talk about hypocrisy. Those same Democrats were called traitors when Republicans were in the majority.

Don't kid yourself SS…the Dems are alive and well out in the 3rd…slowly chipping away at the power structure. The 1st and 2nd belong to the Dems as evidenced in recent elections.

I believe that any party should reflect the will of the people that are members of that party…not the few "behind the curtain." I also believe the Democratic Caucus in Nebraska is a bad scheme that undermines the peoples will…especially when it is…under attended… intimidating for some…and leaves people out of the process when overseas or out of state…e.g. military personnel serving our nation.

Our selection and election process is in dire straits and is in need of a major overhaul. Voter registration is also a free-for-all that needs an across the board tightening.

There's only one way that Lee Terry doesn't get re-elected: Obama keeps his organization here. If Obama has pulled out of Omaha, White and everyone else can forget it. The question for White is: What assurances will you give Obama that you will support everything he does 100%? If White thinks that he will not have to pay a pound of flesh to get elected, then he should remember that Nebraska is not the Southside of Chicago. Obama's in a whole 'nother league, dude.

Of course, there's always the double digit unemployment, 12 digit budget deficit, deteriorating conditions in Iraq, Iran getting nuclear weapons, and the decimation of the Omaha insurance industry. Surely those will help the party in power.

LIES and DISTORTIONS is the order of the day for the DEMS here on L Street…"Change we can believe in", "Civility in City Hall", and now "Lee hates our military" at some point the voters will see through this pap.

Omaha Repub: What do you expect from the Dems? They have to grasp for things like that because they know that whoever they run against Terry will still be one of Nancy Pelosi's minions and so is part of the problem.

But Macdaddy, that type of thinking is just what is wrong with the Republicans way of thinking these days — and I AM a registered Republican. If Lee Terry doesn't think he's going to have a problem next year because the people of the second district will just see Tom White as one of "Nancy Pelosi's minnions," then that is the sure-fire way that Lee Terry is going to lose. A growing majority of 2nd district Nebraskans just don't think like that anymore.

They must be throwing snowballs in hell, cuz I'm with you, One Out. The Caucus was a lot of fun, because it was a gathering of voters with open, honest dialogue. It also left a lot of people out of the process.

The infighting in the Third District is fine, it shows they still care.

The Democrats will keep chipping away in the Third District, but I'm afraid redistricting will be in place before things change. The Repubs will not cry when they loose Adrian, cuz it will bring all of the Third District Republicans into the 1st and 2nd Districts. Thoughts from the privvy.

Lee Terry must be in Clay Davis mode: Think y'all can just be done with Lee, kick him when he's down.

[after a subpoena has been served] Because if some federal mothaf*!@er comes walkin' through the door, I say hey, it's all in the game! But a city police…Hell Naaaw, can't be happenin' because I know I done raised too much godd*&n money for the Mayor and his ticket! Hell Naaaw, aint no soul in the world that fu#*in' ungrateful!

Kool Aid Drinker. Whoever has the Lincoln or Omaha money behind them. Could be a Democrat. (Gasp) Once the Third District Repubs get added, the 1st and 2nd District will be a different dance. And once again, those of us out in the old third will be sitting in the bleachers without a partner.

Good plan Nate. Illegals may have helped a mayor get elected, and now he has plenty of trunk room in a vehicle we are buying for him to boost those numbers. After all, they arent' illegal no matter how they get here according to some people. Actually, I am joking, but only a little.

Anon 3:58: there's only one reason Esch came within a whisker of defeating Terry this last time: Obama's organization. They got an awful lot of new voters registered and to the polls. They proved that they know how to get it done. Whichever Dem wants the nomination will have to make sure that Obama's organization sticks around for 2010. They will have to swear on a stack of Bibles and hand over their first-born for that to happen. Should be a pretty easy case for Terry to make that such a candidate would be so far up Obama's butt that he or she would not really be representing the voters of the CD2. In the fall of 2010, when things are going to hell overseas, this suckers' rally has ended and the Dow is back down around 7000, gas is over $3 a gallon, and unemployment is around 12%, I like Terry's chances. As for what Terry does in the meantime, he should just keep doing what he's doing: taking his oath of office seriously and trying to be a responsible Congressman, unlike the Dems who just voted on a piece of legislation that aims to overhaul our entire economy but which no one has read because it actually doesn't exist as a document.

The dems may be alive and well, but they still can't agree on the difference between an asshole and their breakfast without epithets, tantrums, Roberts rules clarifications, and multiple caucus-goers losing the will to live.

Im begiinging to think Lee Terry is a bit of a hot head. Almost getting in a fight with Jesse Jakcson Jr., exchanging profanities with a motorist, throwing puppies off a bridge, killing the neighbors cat, truly horrendous behavior. Ok i made up the last two…

Everything Lee Terry does is political and should be no surprise to anyone. Lee has never been a real conservative and does/says whatever is necessary to stay in office. Matt Sakalosky is a real bedrock conservative that will never be on the House democrats top ten favority republicans list.

Terry voted to weaken this country, our freedoms and stand for capitalism when he voted for the 1st bailout package. So, I would not start talking about whose weakening the country.

How many times has Lee voted for IMF Funding in the past.

Let's remember the main portion of this legislation dealt with funding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It's a total cop-out to say I voted against this because of the IMF Funding. What about in 2005? What about in 2003? There were riders and amendments to those emergency war funding bills that the Republicans put through and you voted yes on that.

One word = hypocrisy.

Lee you are a hypocrite. Much like you trying to blame Democrats and your job for lashing out at that driver. GIVE ME A BREAK.

I agree…I also think Smith is stronger in the 3rd than his contemporaries in the 1st and 2nd…but that doesn't mean he should let his guard down. We can only hope he hangs around as long as the other Smith that ran herd over the 3rd …and hopefully does as well as Virginia.

Seems too that the Kleeb's went unscathed through the "ugly show." The Kleeb Klatch at NTV were glowing during their report of the uprising…they loved it. Even showed a shot of BTO…I think he was even wearing a blue tropical shirt…looking good BTO! Kinda had that Jimmy Buffet thing going.

IMPO…Lisa got what she deserved…from what I observed from the beginning of her rise…she was too closed minded and she would make a sailor wince…sorta like the Alpha Kleeb.

Someone on the NTV website has dug up an old bone that Lisa Hannah wishes would never have seen the light of day. Seems Leavenworth Street has had something to say about it before. The Beatrice Fiddler exposed her bias against Hispanics some time ago. Didn't she get fired from her job at Health and Human services over that one?

Don't know if she was fired…but you can check out some of her discussions in the Grand Island Independent "Forums" section. She was a major ax-grinder back in '06- '07. Run a search and you can judge for yourself.

Since we are off the subject, how do you feel about Senators sleeping with prostitutes, using government funds to fly to Argentina to see their lovers, and going into random bathrooms to ask for sexual gratification?

Dunno any Senators who fly off to Argentina. Most sexual behavior I consider none of my business, unless it involves 14 year olds, in which case I feel the state has a protective interest. One should definitely differentiate between consensual private sexual behavior between adults, and the exploitation of children. That seems to be a distinction that escapes some people, though it seems simple enough.

People – not just State Treasurers — shouldn't beat their wives, or anyone else, and if they do so should be prosecuted for assault and battery.

the discussion here used to be interesting from a political perspective. Now, it has becometabloid in its constant barrage ofpersonal slams. What about caps on trade, bailouts, leaving Iraqand a city in deep debt. What sayyou good electorate, where's yourvoice in this?

RWP said, "Child molestation and firing off a few hot words are not really commensurate. And you can look that word up."

RWP, Nobody said that child molestation and "firing off a few hot words" are not really commensurate. Can the people on this board only talk about one topic though? As I said before, we've discussed thoroughly all the news about Matt Samp. Do you have something to add? The current news is Lee Terry's fits of rage in DC. We're discussing that now. I'm sure tomorrow there will be another topic — or is that not allowed in your view either?

Hey Lee Terry Detractors…Fu@# YOU!!!!! How do you like them apples. Lee is a person like anybody else. I personally wouldn't vote for anybody that has necer dropped an F bomb..and if you want to get techinical I know several Senators and Staffers that have heard Tom White use profane language.

"Fit of rage"? Don't be such a drama queen. It's alleged he swore at a motorist. Even if a child overheard the f-bomb, it's not the same as being molested. Is my anonymous correspondent trying to trivialize child molestation. If so, why?

And what has what a Idaho Senator did in a Minnesota restroom got to do with Nebraska politics? Nothing. It's a distraction from this asinine campaign to fell Lee Terry by a thousand needle pricks.

To make a point for today, to Primary a sitting Republican Congressman in a District that has not had 2 consecutive Republicans represent it for at least 4 decades, is the equivalent of political suicide for the R's.

So, one has to ask one's self: Who is really promoting a Primary challenge on Congressman Terry?

As for CD3, maybe the Dems are finally going to quit following Republican elected officials around? They should probably be careful about trying that tactic in CD2, it just might get them ticketed for "following too close behind".

"So, one has to ask one's self: Who is really promoting a Primary challenge on Congressman Terry?" Conservative voters who are tired of a "go along to get along" supposed Republican congressman who no longer represents them and has become just another inside the beltway professional pol whose only concern is staying in office. How about that for a rationale?

And how about the word keeps spreading all around Omaha what an ass Lee Terry really is. You can't be a jerk to person after person and not expect it to catch up with you. What goes around comes around and all that.

Too many conservatives forget that our only important guiding principle is to Seethe With Rage against Those Who Are Different. They allow, as Lee Terry did, their Seething Fits of Rage to be directed against random motorists — although I bet the motorist in question was a disabled lesbian transwoman motorist of color driving a Prius, and therefore quite deserving of Rage.

Me, I like to be systematic. I have a large SQL database of People Who Are Different, and have written a nice little Ruby script that every morning, at 6 a.m., selects 5 Diverse persons against whom I will Seethe all day with Rage for ten minutes every hour, with a 10 minute break from Seething (my doctor insisted on this). It weights people based on how different they are, and let's face it, MJ was very different, so he came up a lot. Of course, he will soon be automatically deleted from the database, as he was from the Roll of the Living, to be replaced by another Different person.

Did anyone hear Lee Terry on KFAB this morning talk about "the cussing incident"?? Seems like he's having trouble telling the truth about what really happened. The CQ reporter said Lee was jaywalking and that's what made the driver mad at him. According to Lee, he was "crossing in the crosswalk and still had 9 seconds to go before the light turned red." He has "no idea" why the driver would start something with him.

Hmmmmm. First, why would the CQ reporter lie? Who has something to gain in this instance for lying about it?

Second, everybody knows it is a sure indication that you are lying if you try to add too many "facts" to your story. Him going on about how there were 9 seconds left on the crosswalk…….come on! That's ridiculous. Do you really think he was staring at how many seconds were left when a driver starts yelling at him?? Just tell the truth Lee.

Anon 11:46: They have this cool new technology where some crosswalks have a timer on the walk/don't walk sign. They're pretty common in the big city. Heck, even Omaha has some. It's common practice to watch the timer while you're walking across. Does that solve the big "mystery" of how Lee Terry, a sentient being who can walk and chew gum at the same time, can notice how much time was left on the light?

But leave all that aside. Are you idiot Dems that scared that a full year and a half before the next election you're already grasping at straws? Or can you see what's happening with the economy just like the rest of us can and see that your plans have not worked and will never work. They just exist to line the pockets of your buddies regardless of how it hurts poor people? I think 2010 is looking good for Republicans.

I looked up the blog entry for it. (BTW, this is getting amusing which is why I even bothered). The reporter did not comment on whether or not Terry was in fact jaywalking. Think that might have been pertinent? The reporter is so intent on writing down every word he hears uttered between a driver in a car and a pedestrian and yet he conveniently leaves out what the driver first said (was he not close enough or would it have bolstered Terry's side? If he wasn't close enough, how do we know he got the exchange accurate?) and whether or not Terry was jaywalking (that could have taken a split second to ascertain). I think rather than ask why he would lie, we should ask this journalist, where are the rest of the facts that would put a Republican Congressman in a more favorable light? The blog entry reads like piss poor journalism to me. But in any event, I think Democrats should keep harping on this. This story really has legs. This could flip the CD2 blue!

So, a meeting where the leadership in a caucus changes constitutes chaos. Interesting, I suppose that never happens in the state GOP from time to time right? Such things are a part of every day politics at all levels.

The big news is that Lee Terry mayhave cursed and nine seconds remained on the crosswalk timer? Ya wonder why people don't votewhen such pressing issues dominate the discussion. Never thought I'd take Lee's side, but…"Who cares?"

I love how the Suttle watch people have to come here to get their propaganda out. Just goes to show that a one trick pony, er one issue blog is never going to keep people's attention for long… yawn. Jim Suttle bad, (insert Republican here) good. Boring.

I don't see anything wrong with a single issue blog like Suttle Watch. It seems they stay on point and publish only when Jim Suttle does something goofy. L Street on the other hand covers broader territory and is interestig to read.

I have yet to see any NEWS outlet mention Suttle's secretary's pay. If they have the right amount, that's newsworthy.

"I think we all know that his repeated embarassments on defense spending, earmarks, false claims on energy policy and his outright unabashed partisanship makes him unfit to serve."

Right. Those, of course, are the MAIN reasons Lee Terry should be voted out. It's just fun to talk about his cussing outburst on the streets of DC. And you know what? I'd agree with you guys if this was an isolated incident. But it's not. Lee has a reputation, and well-documented evidence, that this is FAR from an isolated incident. Jesse Jackson Jr. anyone?

Lee Terry's got an anger issue, and a history of acting in a manner unbecoming of a United States Congressman. Do we really want to keep electing this hothead? Not me. I'd rather elect someone who represents our great city in a sophisticated manner. Not in a high school bully manner. I teach my children not to reward that kind of behavior.

"Those right wing conservatives that so desperately want someone to represent them should go check Congressman Terry's voting record." We have…and it got him voted one of the top 10 favorite republicans by the House democrats among other things.

BTW – What's the big deal about Suttle paying his "administrative assistant" $68k? It's a tough job lying about if your boss is in town or not whenever asked…ask Fahey's old assistant.

If Lisa Hanna is looking for who is responsible for her downfall, she should look no further than her husband, Roger. Had he not carried on his lengthy argument with Osborne over on NNN, a lot of the facts that sunk her ship would never have seen the light of day.

As for Osborne, it looks like he just likes to argue. Typical of an addicted blogger.

So if Fahleson wants Tom White to denounce the DCCC ad against Terry, should Terry denounce Fahleson for his personal attacks on White and his implication on Twitter that White and Pelosi are literally "in bed?"

Anon 10:39: as we have seen by the bunched up panties when a CQ reporter, who may have been tailing Lee Terry, reported his f-bomb, elected officials are public figures and their every utterance is now fair game. Thank your fellow posters. Of course, if Tom White is using negative campaign tactics, that wouldn't be a private matter now would it? I have to say the Uncle Wiggly had a great point: do you people ever read what you type?

Life could get really interesting if the Dems set up a hotline to report on what Republican officeholders do in their spare time. It would probably really embarrass the Gov, several of his key staffers, the state treasurer, other constitutional officeholders, and a number of state senators.

Anon 10:41: is everything about sex with you? I'm really sure that Terry was claiming White, Pelosi, and a whole bunch of other Democrats were getting their freak on. On second thought, the Dems are acting like Caligula so it isn't all that far-fetched.

I didn't see the word 'literally' in Fahleson's tweet. But I expect the concept of 'metaphor' is far over he head of the average Dem. voter, and most of them probably think 'literally' means 'virtually', as indeed most of the media does.

The entire concept of 'pro-life' democrat is just silly, anyway. The most important vote in Congress is the organizing vote. If you vote for a speaker and leadership whom you know will never allow a pro-life measure to come to an up-or-down vote, in what respect are you a pro-lifer?

I believe that a vast majority of Republicans wear what hair they do have in the most laughable of styles. And, it is my opinion, that most Republicans are mindless followers of that Oxycontin infested, Viagra abusing, talent-on-loan from (anyone but) God, Rush Limbaugh.

What the hell is Suttle doing working with KC?! Shouldn't he be focusing on OUR problems, or at the very least finding a finance director who is done in a little more than a week? Afterall, aren't we teetering on bankruptcy, according to him? No thanks to the huge raises he gave his staff and what he paid for a vehicle. Hmmm, just doing some quick math here, but I think we could have kept open the public pools he just closed for what he paid in raises and the vehicle. The pools serve thousands of tax-payers, and where he put that money serves HIM.

If his staff is willing to work a lease deal like they did, which Suttle is ultimately responsible for, I am worried about who he will pick. Hey Jim, I think Bernie Madoff has some time on his hands. Perhaps you can tap him? He is good at robbing people for his own self benefit too.

I'll do the same. Democrats tend to be spendthrifts who think it is their god-given right to dole out the money other people work hard to earn to make government even bigger. Republicans tend to be more fiscally conservative, as opposed to tax-tax-tax and spend.

We are a captialist society, and that is largely what has made this a great country. Governments job is to provide the services capitalists cannot and should not provide (military, police, fire, etc) and to keep some capitalists from becoming too powerful, so as not to stifle smaller capitalists from achieving the American Dream as well.

BTW, hair styles have little to do with one's abilities, and has nothing to do with party lines. Also, Limbaugh does NOT represent all Republicans. Your prejudices are showing.

Considering that she is the only and I repeat ONLY person with previous experience with the inner workings of the City Council or Mayor's office in the Suttle administration, that $68,000 a year is probably the best investment made by Suttle thus far.

And what point is that BTO? You used many words, but said little. From your past posts, your comments don't sound like sarcasm, so yes, please use emoticons if you feel that is necessary to get your point accross.

Three cheers to Councilman Ben Gray. Someone has finally mustered up enough guts to take on the all-mighty Firefighters Union. We are all for safety, but we can not afford to have four firefighters on a call to get a cat out of a tree.

Why, when there's a close vote, and a recount, and people carefully scrutinize the 'spoiled vote' to discern the intent of the voter, does the Dem usually add hundreds of votes? Most of my conservative friends think it's just plain ol' fraud, but I have a different theory. It's that a very high proportion of the people too stupid to properly fill out an election ballot are Democrats.

Of course, it's been documented most convicted felons vote Democrat.

Being at UNL, I do know some smart people who vote D, but they're almost always very narrowly smart, and utterly naive about politics — the sort of liberals who are liberals because they believe, dang it, that black people do deserve the chance to vote, and women are every bit as good as men. In other words, the sort of liberals who are four square against George Wallace (D, AL). Most of 'em, when you quiz 'em, are against racial preferences, acknowledge most of the government programs they encounter aren;t very well run, etc..

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for blessing us all with your unquestionably superior intelligence oh Mighty Right Wing Prof. Don't let the rarified air up there in your ivory tower taint your thinking processes with such minutiae as the truth. We commoners are so blessed to be privy to your sage advice that we needn't strain our feeble minds with such considerations.

You asked, "Why, when there's a close vote, and a recount, and people carefully scrutinize the 'spoiled vote' to discern the intent of the voter, does the Dem usually add hundreds of votes?"

The simple answer, for those of us with simple minds, is quite simply that once the votes are tallied with a higher degree of precision, and Democrats win, it means Democrats won. What is your problem with that? What have you got against democracy?

Oh yeah, some of you right wing elitists think we'd be better off leaving all decisions to extraordinarily bright people like you, while the rest of us could just concentrate on being dutiful wage slaves. I apologize to you for having the audacity to believe that I could think at your level.

I would like to add that Lee Terry or as Dick Cheney calls him "Terry Lee" only won against Jim Esch because of his desperate begging of money from the RNC. That money went to 11th hour negative personal ads against Esch such as a DUI, family money, etc. that raised just enough doubt in some voters minds about Esch that allowed Terry to sneak by with another win.

Yeah, it's Hell when the voters have to be told the emperor is wearing no clothes. Jim Esch was a piece of crap candidate that was not properly vetted by a desperate DCDP. Nice guy, fun to hang out with, but terrible candidate to try and prop up as "upstanding citizen "A".

As BTO put it, it is the final vote count that decides who wins an election, not who thought they were winning for most of the night. Just ask Hal Daub about this, unfortunately he knows this and now we are all stuck with "Mr. Bumkis".

I could go through the entire list of "How much I think Lee Terry sucks", but it is really not worth my time. He is the Congressman, your guy couldn't keep it together long enough to deserve the votes, end of story.

BTW, how many people of substance could even be bothered to give a rat's ass to a local Democrat candidate in the last 10 years? Just asking 🙂

Anon 12:51 said:"BTW, how many people of substance could even be bothered to give a rat's ass to a local Democrat candidate in the last 10 years? Just asking :)"

The answer:With the NDP under new management? More and more of us all the time. We proved it with an electoral vote in CD2 for Obama, Mayors and city councils in both Omaha and Lincoln (hardly podunks,) and with a CD3 awakening from its slumber – there is a an outside chance that we'll cast off that Club For Growth rubber stamp, Adrian Smith.

Before that happens though, the Democrats in Nebraska are going to have to find their voices. They are going to have to quit accepting their spoon fed dogmas and following leaders as sheep.

Rural Nebraskan Democrats have, for far too long, been the red-headed stepchildren of the party. Only by learning to argue forcefully, will they ever rise above the entrenched oligarchy led by denizens of Lincoln and Omaha. If the metropolitan Democrats don't come to the realization that they must begin actively supporting their rural family with a never before seen fervor, then yeah … the status quo will persist.

Ohhh!, I get it now, just like with EVERYTHING else, you want Omaha to give you money, and then stay out of your business?

Sorry, BTO, it doesn't work that way. If you come to the bank, the bank owns you. Either stand up on your own, get some of those Democratic Ranchers and Hands in CD3 to cough up some of their hard earned Ag Subsidies for your cause, or live with what you worked for.

On my point about "Dems of substance", I know that locals would like to think that The Big O came to The Big O for all the candidates, uh, I mean Esch, but everyone with a brain knows that he came here for himself. As for Mr. Kerrey of New York? He was actually in town for John Gottschalk, not Jim Esch. Who else has been here stumping for Nebraskan's? Fahey's 5 minute appearance with Jim Suttle was a sham and I bet he wouldn't do it again for "all the tea in China" or Washington, for that matter.

Keep hoping, but even Omaha is getting a little tired of the spendfest occurring in Washington for the last 6 months. The Dems in power have less than 18 months to stop funding terrorists' nations bailouts on the backs of our Country's finest soldiers, figure out how to actually stimulate the housing market without handing out houses to anyone with a pulse, and stop screwing up our healthcare system and actually do something to improve it for everyone-not just the downtrodden.

Let me know when you have your next fundraiser in CD3, I'll give Mayor Suttle a call and see if he has any payroll cash left for you all out there!LOL

Did I say anything about money? Why is it so many of you wannabe politicos can only think of politics in terms of money. Politics is about ideas and principles, or at least it should be.

Merely electing a person as a representative isn't accomplishing a damn thing. Only when that person then represents the ideas and principles of those that worked hard to get them into office has anything been accomplished. When they turn their backs on the folks that got them where they are, then they deserve to be cast out with the trash.

There are many more ways that support can be shown to rural Nebraskans than merely throwing money at their problems. Yeah, it sure would have been nice to have Barack Obama, or any other "Democrat of substance", come out to the 3rd in 2008. But that is exactly the problem I am addressing, and on that point we agree. The decisions on matters such as that were being made in Omaha. That is why I keep trying to instigate rural Democrats to speak out, and to speak out forcefully.

As for your "funding terrorists' nations" … what are you smoking and where can I get some?

Our next big bash in the 3rd CD will be in Alliance on the 26th of September. I've suggested to the organizers that they call it "The Great Nebraska Democratic Family Reunion," but it isn't my call. I think those that are putting it together just might have the biggest event the NDP has ever seen. But, that will happen only if western and rural Nebraska means anything to our eastern cousins. I guess this will be an opportunity for them to prove that everything I've ranted about over the past three years was wrong. If it flops, well then I'll be vindicated.

I would hope that your Mayor Suttle will attend the Alliance event. I would hope that Mayor Beutler can make it there. I would hope that all of our Democratic state legislators come to it. If they contribute to the Box Butte County Democrats, hosts of the event, the Nebraska Democratic County Chairs Organization, or the NDP … all the better. Somebody has to pay for the donuts.

Interestind Terry detractors are going after LT for dropping an F bomb in DC. How about we look at Tom White. He consistantly berates and insuls collegues in the legislature and often uses – shall we say – colorful language. He's even nearly gone to blows with other legislators.

Tom White is an a-hole of the first degree. This will be exposed in due time.

The IMF BILLIONS that was nicely packaged and called the Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental Funding Bill. Apparently the bad economy has hit even Iran and they need help from the IMF and we are providing $56 Bill for it to give away to foreign countries.

Now we all know why the Republicans are voting no on troop supplementals-they refuse to give cash to countries that want to kill our troops.